The German Marco Fritz will be in charge of the VAR in the match that Real Sociedad and Salzburg will play tonight after UEFA has decided to relieve the initially designated one, the Polish Tomasz Kwiatkowski, who was responsible for the video refereeing in the controversial PSG. Newcastle on Tuesday.
Kwiatkowski helped his compatriot Szymon Marciniak from the VOR room in the clash at the Parc des Princes, which ended with a 1-1 draw due to a controversial penalty in favor of Luis Enrique Martínez's team declared in extra time and converted by Kylian Mbappe.
The referee who directed the World Cup final in Qatar between Argentina and France a year ago and the final of the last Champions League between Manchester City and Inter Milan declared a maximum penalty for an action in which a pass from Ousmane Dembele hit Tino Livramento's body and then brushed his elbow lightly, which caused great displeasure among the 'magpies', who were savoring the triumph in the French capital.
Newcastle coach Eddie Howe had this to say about the play in question for TNT: "Hit the body first, that's the key. If he hit the arm first I'd still think it's not a penalty, but maybe it could take right. When he first touches a part of his body and then his hands are down, it is not a penalty. It should not have cost us the game."
For his part, Luis Enrique later explained that "I am not dedicated to looking at the VAR" and that his job is to coach PSG. "One day the ball doesn't want to go in and this is what happens. It's like the script of a horror movie, but I hope to finish first in the group," said the Spanish coach at a press conference.
With Poland's Tomasz Kwiatkowski in the fridge, Fritz will be the one in charge of the VAR in tonight's match at the Reale Arena and will be accompanied by Turkey's Alper Ulusoy. The referee will be the Ukrainian Mykola Balakin.
